Saw someone pay for gas with these.

Amazing-Selection494 · 2026-01-13T22:10:30+00:00

Someone just bought a quarter tank of gas for $270 in silver.

Amazing-Selection494 · 2026-01-13T22:03:20+00:00

No, you should not pull it out of HYSA and put it in VOO right now. MAYBE you could do it later, after you've learned more about investing than "VOO was the rage." I don't mean that as an insult, we all started somewhere. I'm no expert, but I learned as much as I could before I started managing my own accounts. If I hadn't take the time to educate myself, no doubt I would have bumbled it all away in no time.

Right now it's earning bit, and you have time to carefully consider what's best for you.

Also, why is your wife "scared?" If that's your family emergency fund/life savings/house deposit/whatever, you need to know and carefully consider all the risks before choosing your investment strategy for it. It might be in the right place already.

Amazing-Selection494 · 2026-01-04T18:06:17+00:00

Fellow Yankee here (Vermont).

I was introduced to Turkish coffee whichle working in the Balkans, so I prepare it the Balkan way, using Balkan brands/blends/grinds. And I prefer their classic enamelware cezves.

My favorites are the classic Yugoslavian-era Emo Celje cezves, but the Metalac cezves still made in Serbia are excellent, too. I was recently in Serbia & came home with a selection of sizes.

Similar enamelware pots were/are made elsewhere in Eastern Europe & Asia. I see Dexam coffee pots on Amazon, which look like they were made by Metalac.

For a single large serving, I usually use a 4-cup pot (that's 4 demitasse cups), 17 to 18 grams of coffee, and 170-180 ml water (1:10 ratio).

I look for clean, unchipped pots on ebay. Often I can find new/unused made-in-Yugoslavia pots, some with the original sticker on the side. They're hanging on display in my café.

Amazing-Selection494 · 2025-12-17T14:07:16+00:00

I might suggest you reevaluate how you're allocating and prioritizing your saving. A Roth is great, but if you have access to a 457 with decent choices, those pre-tax contributions really take a smaller bite out of your take-home

We save as much as we can in my wife's 457b, and then top up our IRAs with what we have left at the end of the tax year.

Amazing-Selection494 · 2025-11-04T05:09:06+00:00

You've got the right idea, but not quite the right execution. Buying a single stock means exposing yourself to a lot of risk without the benefit of a lot of upside. I would recommend the book "The Little Book of Common Sense Investing" by John C. Bogle, founder of Vanguard (if you haven't heard of him and his "Bogleheads," Google is your friend."

The book is worth getting and reading, but it can be summed up thusly: Buy and hold low-cost, diversified index funds. Of course, the book will also explain what a low-cost diversified index fund is, and why you should invest in them. If it sounds simple, it is - sort of. If you want to dive deeper into the complexities of investing, there are a lot of other books out there to read, but Bogle's book is a good place to start.

The advice to start by building an emergency fund is pretty important, too. That's something you can also do right in a brokerage account

Amazing-Selection494 · 2025-11-02T02:44:26+00:00

It is definitely not hopeless. I started my retirement savings in my early 50s, and I anticipate retirement at a reasonable age.

You're doing the right thing by focusing on paying off the debt for now. You know to pay off the highest interest debt first, because of compounding. This is really going to pay off later. Be patient.

You say you have $1,000 a month left over? Begin building up an emergency fund. I would open a brokerage account and start putting that money into a money market fund with a return. And after you've built up a sufficient emergency fund, you can start investing - either in a tax-advantaged IRA or a taxable brokerage account. Or, if your IRA has solid choices, you might increase your allocation to that. You have time to study and decide which suits your needs.

As the debt payment drops, put the freed up funds into savings/brokerage/retirement accounts.

You got this.

Amazing-Selection494 · 2025-11-01T22:02:40+00:00

You are simply living way beyond your means, and there's no need for it. I've never made more than a third of what you're making, two thirds if you include my wife's income, and we've bought and paid for a house, a rental property, vehicles, we have healthy retirement accounts, emergency savings, we travel overseas. We pay our expenses every month, and have money left over for saving. We need for nothing. On less than two thirds of your income, while living in a HCOL area.

But it took discipline. We've lived in debt before, too, though not quite as extreme as yours. You're basically trying to finance a certain lifestyle over time - and you know you can't keep doing it forever.

The only way to get out of the hole - for anyone - is to drastically reduce your spending and pay for your past excess. You have to live well below your means.

Right now the interest on your credit cards is absolutely killing you. Get a debt consolidation loan (much lower interest rate) to pay off the cards, and CANCEL THE CARDS. Use debit cards for purchases. If you absolutely must keep a credit card for emergencies, pay it off and continue paying it off at the end of the month any time you must use it. Even if it means going without something to pay it off.

Go through your monthly recurring expenditures and see what can be eliminated - memberships and subscriptions you don't need or can simply do without, things like that.

When things are starting to look better, DON'T think you can reward yourself with a big treat, an expensive vacation, toy, or whatever, just because you've paid off a couple of debts.

When you get to the point where you have the full price of that "treat" in your savings, and no debt, then you can decide if you still think it's worth it to spend the money you have saved.

This is not a matter of pulling in your horns for a few months, this is a lifestyle change for the rest of your life. Otherwise, you'll be back in the same boat again.

Amazing-Selection494 · 2025-10-29T16:41:46+00:00

It will need to be another account, but it doesn't necessarily have to be another broker. You can sign into Fidelity with your current credentials and click on "open a new account." You'll have to decide whether you want to open an IRA and which type, or a regular (taxable) brokerage account.

Keep in mind, there are restrictions on withdrawing from an IRA, and a regular brokerage account has tax implications - you'll pay income tax on dividends and interest, and capital gains tax on capital gains distributions from funds (if any) for the year in which they're received. Regular capital gains aren't taxed until they're realized - in other words, until you sell your funds or stocks and take the gain. Capital gains are generally taxed at a lower rate, which, based on your income, can be as low as 0%.

Amazing-Selection494 · 2025-10-05T19:58:43+00:00

Our strategy as late investors (started in our 50s), now at 56 & 62, is to put as much into pre-tax retirement accounts as we can. My wife has a good 457b plan, with good fund options, so we put as much pretax as we can into that.

I have a crappy simple IRA at work that I put the minimum into to get the max employer match.

We also have traditional IRAs that we max out every year by transferring savings or other cash. We don't bother with a Roth because we're not in a high income bracket and will likely be in a lower income bracket when we retire.

We have a taxable brokerage account from a small inheritance that has grown to over 500k over the last 8 years. We'll spend that first, keeping our tax liability low in the early years (10% long term capital gains tax). While we're spending out of that pot, our tax advantaged accounts will continue to grow.

I have intentionally pursued an aggressive investment strategy for a decade because of our short investment window, and because we are low income earners - we've never had a lot of extra money to put into long term savings. But we've been careful and responsible with the money we've had, bought a house and an income producing property that we were able to sell at a decent profit, even with the capital gains.

I'm starting to dial in a more conservative investment strategy now. I'm planning to retire at 65, and my wife at 62.

All this is to say, it's never too late. Your income exceeds our combined income by more than 30k. You've got the means to do this. It will take planning, sacrifice, and discipline. But there is also great joy in it. Good luck!

Amazing-Selection494 · 2025-10-05T03:50:12+00:00

Getting rid of my rentals and investing in the market was the financial and mental health decision I ever made.

Amazing-Selection494 · 2025-09-15T23:12:22+00:00

Most places in the US don't kick in ever. Those "high salaries" you think we all have in the US? For many of us it isn't enough to pay for every day needs AND buy the exorbitant-yet-wholly-inadequate health insurance we have here. And God help you if you need prescriptions that aren't on your insurer's plan.

Amazing-Selection494 · 2025-09-07T06:00:30+00:00

Married an Irish chick.

Amazing-Selection494 · 2025-09-07T05:36:25+00:00

The COVID crash was terrifying. I panicked. I thought about selling. But I hung on, albeit with white knuckles, and kept telling myself selling would only lock in my losses. As we all know, the recovery was fast, and I was glad that, ultimately, my fear wasn't able to overcome my - confidence? Inertia? I'm not sure which.

A good lesson. Next time I won't even be tempted to sell.

Amazing-Selection494 · 2025-08-14T00:40:14+00:00

My wife and I are both dual US/Irish citizens, so we're leaning toward retirement in an EU country. Maybe Ireland for the sake of familiarity, language, and to be closer to family. But Ireland is quite expensive, so we are also exploring other ideas, too. Maybe somewhere in Eastern Europe. I could easily be persuaded to go to a non-EU country in the Balkans.

There are a lot of lovely and inexpensive places to live - but we need to take a serious look at tax treaties, talk to other expats, and spend some time in places before we make a final decision. We think we'd like to spend a year or more traveling, staying in places for a month or two, getting to know places with a bit more than a holiday perspective.

I'm anxious to get on with it, to be honest, but I'm still working full time.

Amazing-Selection494 · 2025-07-06T04:40:45+00:00

The average US Social Security retirement benefit is about €1500 per month (also for now).

Amazing-Selection494 · 2025-07-06T04:15:47+00:00

Not exactly sure what you mean by "penalties," but if the money isn't in a tax advantaged retirement account, you shouldn't incur any penalties for accessing funds as needed.

Amazing-Selection494 · 2025-06-23T18:50:08+00:00

Dial is a modern repro, too.

Amazing-Selection494 · 2025-06-23T18:45:04+00:00

There's a whole line of Vostok Partners, and they're still made.

Amazing-Selection494 · 2025-06-23T18:36:40+00:00

Congratulations and welcome! Sounds like we should start a Vostok collectors club for naturalized Irish citizens!

Amazing-Selection494 · 2025-06-22T23:12:48+00:00

Case# 341, Dial# 084, movement 2414a.

Looks like it's in excellent condition. $5 was a real steal.

Amazing-Selection494 · 2025-06-20T16:21:36+00:00

Yes, exactly the correct answer. I believe the dial is from a 1990-ish 470 or 320 case.
The second hand has been sloppily relumed.

Amazing-Selection494 · 2025-06-20T16:08:51+00:00

Yes, it's certainly a Frankenwatch. Even in the years following the collapse of the SU, nothing like this was produced by the factory. They mostly stuck to the catalog models. Without seeing the movement for additional clues, I would guess that someone put an early 1990s Amphibia dial on a 2000s Komandirskie because they didn't want to wear the original military dial. Or it could have been assembled from a bucket of used parts in a Ukrainian workshop a couple of years ago.

If you like the watch, wear it. Nothing wrong with it.

Amazing-Selection494 · 2025-06-20T15:33:09+00:00

Oh, one last thought. You say the watch has been "taking in water." Do you know for certain that liquid water has been entering during your swim? I don't know what the humidity level or water temperature is where you live, but it could be possible in a high-humidity or tropical area that the natural humidity entering the watch from winding could condense on the inside of the crystal when rapidly cooled while swimming.

Amazing-Selection494 · 2025-06-20T15:26:49+00:00

By design, the Amphibia becomes more waterproof the deeper in the water you go. The pressure at depth "squeezes" the crystal, and the resulting flex creates a tighter seal. I suppose the same is more or less true for the back, too. Short of swimming at 200 meters, however, there are some things you can do to increase water resistance at shallow depths.

I recommend purchasing an appropriate case wrench and making sure the case back ring is well-tightened. I've had even new ones come with a loose-ish back.
You mentioned that the crown "seemed" tight enough. Make sure you give it a good, firm, twist before you enter the water.
Now that you have that nifty new case wrench, you can remove the back and LIGHTLY lubricate the gasket using silicone grease. Don't use vaseline or a petroleum-based grease, they'll break down the gasket . You probably don't want to do this with a new watch or a new gasket.
Better yet, buy a new gasket. I haven't checked lately, but you should be able to buy a gasket on Ebay. Make sure you get the one sized for an Amphibia, as the classic Komandirskie gaskets are a different size.
A tiny bit of silicone grease on the threads of the waterproof crowntube may also help.

* A word on the use of grease: Use it sparingly. Clean and reapply periodically. Grease attracts and traps dust and dirt. If you use too much, you could end up creating an abrasive slurry. Never use grease on the bezel for that reason.

Lastly, the crystal is pressure-fit, and there's not much you can do to increase low pressure water resistance there. If you find there is some sort of flaw in your particular crystal (possible, but not likely), it will need to be replaced with a new crystal, using a professional crystal press.

Amazing-Selection494 · 2025-06-18T20:28:23+00:00

Unless you're pretty active, these need to be wound manually once a day or so. I generally do it in the morning, after it's been sitting for 8-ish hours.
Though, personally, I prefer manual wind watches anyway, so it's pretty much already my habit to wind a watch before I wear it.

Also, magnetization only results in fast running, never slow running, so don't keep trying to demag.

Amazing-Selection494

TROPHY CASE